longo



J. J. LONGO FLUID ACTUATED SPEED CONTROL DEVICE Feb. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20. 1955 INVENTOR w W 0. T

1956 J. J. LONGO 2,734,608

FLUID ACTUATED SPEED CONTROL DEVICE Filed March 20. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOSEPH J. LON GO BY W ATTOR N EY United States Patent FLUID ACTUATED SPEED CONTROL DEVICE Joseph J. Longo, Racine, Wis., assignor to Belle City Malleable Iron Company, .a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 20, 1953, Serial No. 343,619

9 Claims. (Cl. 192116.5)

This invention relatesto a speed control device. More specifically this invention relates to a speed control device of a'fluid actuatedtype.

It is a prime object of this invention to provide animproved speed control-device that is responsive to the rotation of an impeller housed within .acasing having a fluid chamber.

Another object is to provide animproved speed control device including a casing having a fluid chamber containing a drive impeller and a driven impeller, the torque of the driven impeller being operable for imparting movement to a control responsive means adapted to regulate the speed of a power actuated mechanism.

Still another and more specific object is to provide an improved speed control device including a.-fluid chamber which houses a drive impeller and a driven impeller, the driven impeller having a switch controlelement connected thereto and being movable in response to thetorque of the driven impeller for actuating a switch thereby controlling the speed of a power driven unit to which the device may be connected.

A still more specific object is to provide an improved speed control device having a fluid chamber and a;switch chamber, the fluid chamber including .a drive. impeller and a driven impeller, therswitch' housing including .a. resilient switch element, the drivenimpeller including a con- "Ice , Y 2 lindrical wall 12. A fluid chamber 13 is provided in the casing, the casing 11 being suitably sealed by an end plate 14. .A switch housing 15 is suitably connected to the casing '11 to provide a switch chamber 16.

A drive shaft 17, having a shaft extension 18, is journailed on the casing 11, the extension 18 being positioned in the fluid chamber 13, and having one end journalled in a bearing as indicated at 19. The drive shaft 17 projects outwardly from the housing 15 and has connected thereto trol element movable against the resilient switch element for moving the same in response to the torque exerted on the driven impeller by the rotation of the drive impeller, thus controlling a power mechanism to which the device may be connected.

These and further objects may become morereadily apparent from a reading of the specification whenexamined in connection with the accompanying sheets ofdrawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional-view through animproved speed control device;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through a speed control device, the view being'taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is an exploded view inperspective of a speed controldevice;

Figure 5 is a cross sectionalview of amodified speed control device;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5 showing a modified speed control device;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view takenalong the line 7--7 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is an exploded view in perspective of a modified speed control device.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 through 4 showing the preferred embodiment, a speed control device is generally designated by the reference. character 10.

The device 10 includes a casing-11 having aninner cya friction wheel 20, suitably keyed to the shaft 17 as indicated at 21.

The shaft extension 18 has connected at one end a disc 22, suitably keyed for rotation therewith by means of a pin 23. The disc 22 is provided with a plurality of impeller vanes 24 which are circumferentially spaced on the disc 22 and which project axially within the chamber 13. The vanes 24 have their outer edges slightly radially spaced from the wall 12 and their inner edges substantially spaced radially from the shaft extention 18.

Adisc 25 is axially spaced from the disc 22. The disc 25 includes a plurality of radially extending slots 26 which are suitably engaged by the ends of the vanes 24 to impart rotating movement to the .disc 25 and thus complete the impeller assembly which is generally designated at 27.

A second impeller assembly is designated generally at 28. The impeller assembly 28 comprises a sleeve 29 having an extension 30. The sleeve 29 has rigidly connected thereto a pair of axially spaced rotatable members 31 and 32 axially spaced. Impeller vanes 33 are connected to said rotatable members in circumferentially spaced relation, the vanes 33 and the rotatable members 31 and 32 being confined in a space formed by the discs 22 and 25 and the vanes 24. The sleeve 29 extends through an enlarged bore 34 provided in the disc 25, and the sleeve extension 30 projects into the chamber 16.

The sleeve extension has connected thereto a control element 35. A switch generally designated at 36 is pro- The control device It) may be used for opening and closing the circuit of an electric power unit or similar type of actuating device (not shown). It must be understood by thus breaking or opening the circuit leading to such a unit the speed can be controlled by the actuation of the switch means disclosed. It must be understood that the power unit or the driven mechanism which is sought to be speed controlled is not shown since the application can be conventional. The novelty resides in the speed control device 10 which may be usitably driven from a power device by means of the friction Wheel 20. Thus the shaft 17 and extension 18 are driven which in turn drives the first impeller'assembly 27. This first impeller assembly 27 may be termed as the master impeller. The rotation of the master impeller 27 causes the fluid to move in a circular path, this movement then being imparted to the slave impeller assembly 28.

'The slave impeller assembly 28 now rotates slightly, 'until the control element 35 engages the switch arm 39 whereupon rotation stops and the control element 35 remains in contact with the switch 36. Under normal operation of the shaft 17 this position is maintained. As the unit which is sought to be governed however, speeds up, the torque which is placed on the sleeve 29 or second impeller assembly 27 becomes strong enough to force the control elements 35 to move the resilient 'switch arm 39 so that contacts 38 and 40 are closed.

This closing of the contacts may now energizea suitable 2,784,608 r i A mechanism for reducing the current supply to an electric power unit or to reduce the fuel supply of another type of power actuator.

It must be understood that a micro-switch or other pressure responsive means may be employed, the invention not being limited to an electrical switch but including any mechanism that may be responsive to the torque developed by the second impeller assembly. The amount of torque developed can be varied by varying the viscosity or the amount of fluid which is used in the fluid chamber. As soon as the speed of the unit sought to be governed is reduced, then the contacts 38 and 46 move apart and the cycle can be repeated.

The modification A modified form of the invention is shown in Figures 5 through 8. The device is substantially similar to the control device shown above insofar as the casing 11, and associated parts are concerned, and where the parts are alike the same reference characters will be used.

The casing 11 includes a circular wall 12 and a housing 15 has a chamber 16. The chamber 13 contains a suitable fluid. The friction wheel 26 is adapted to rotate a drive shaft 50 having an extension 51 journalled as indicated at 19. The extension 51 has connected thereto a first impeller assembly 52, including an impeller 53. The impeller 53 includes vanes 54 and a hub 55 suitably keyed to the extension 51 by a key 56. A second impeller assembly 57 includes a sleeve 53 which is rotatable on the shaft extension 51, the sleeve including an extension 59 which projects into the chamber 16. Circumferentially spaced vanes 6d are connected to a disc 61 for rotation therewith. The first impeller assembly 52 also includes a disc 62 which rotates with the vanes 54, being rigidly connected thereto.

As indicated particularly in Figure 7 the sleeve extension 59 has connected thereto a control element 35 which is adapted to engage and move a resilient switch arm 39, of a switch 35 into relation with a switch arm 37 so that contact elements 38 and 4d are closed during the development of a certain torque in the second impeller assembly 57 in response to rotation of the impeller assembly 52.

The operation of the modified form is similar to the preferred embodiment and need not be further described.

The casing parts and certain parts of the impeller may be suitably and permanently connected by welding as indicated in various places by the reference character 70, it being of course understood that other means may be utilized.

It can now be seen that an improved speed control and switch actuating means has been provided which is responsive to pressure exerted in response to the torque developed in a slave impeller as actuated by a drive or master impeller. Thus the objects of the invention have been fully achieved.

It must be understood that changes may be made in the preferred embodiment as well as in the modification which do not depart from the spirit of the invention as disclosed or from the scope thereof as defined within the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. in a speed control device, a casing having a fluid chamber including an inner cylindrical Wall, a drive shaft mounted for rotation on said casing, said shaft having a shaft extension within said chamber, means connected to said drive shaft for rotating the same, a first impeller assembly within said chamber, said first impeller assembly including a first disc connected to said shaft extension for rotation therewith, a plurality of first vanes connected in circumferentially spaced relation to said first disc for rotation therewith, said vanes extending axially within said chamber and having outer edge portions in substantially contiguous relation to said cylindrical wall and inner edge portions substantially spaced in radial relation from said shaft extension, a second disc axially spaced with respect to said first disc, means connecting said vanes to said second disc, said second disc having a central bore of larger diameter than said shaft extension and encircling said shaft extension, a second impeller assembly within said chamber, said second impeller assembly comprising a sleeve journalled on said shaft extension, first and second rotatable members connected to said sleeve in axially spaced relation for rotation therewith, a plurality of second circumferentially spaced vanes connected to said rotatable members, said second vanes having their outer edges radially spaced with respect to the inner edges of said first vanes, an extension of said sleeve extending outwardly through said bore and from said chamber, and a switch control element connected to said extension on said sleeve, said control element being operable to actuate an electrical switch during a predetermined torque on said second impeller assembly in response to the rotation of said first impeller assembly.

2. In a speed control device, a casing having a fluid chamber including an inner cylindrical wall, a drive shaft mounted for rotation on said casing, said shaft having a shaft extension within said chamber, means connected to said drive shaft for rotating the same, a first impeller assembly within said chamber, said first impeller assembly including a first disc connected to said shaft extension for rotation therewith, a plurality of first vanes connected in circumferentially spaced relation to said first disc for rotation therewith, said vanes extending axially within said chamber and having outer edge portions in substantially contiguous relation to said cylindrical Wall and inner edge portions substantially spaced in radial relation from said shaft extension, a second disc axially spaced with respect to said first disc, means connecting said vanes to said second disc, said second disc having a central bore of larger diameter than said shaft extension and encircling said shaft extension, a second impeller assembly within said chamber, said second impeller assembly comprising a sleeve journalled on said shaft extension, first and second rotatable members con nected to said sleeve in axially spaced relation for rotation therewith, a plurality of second circumferentially spaced vanes connected to said rotatable members, said second vanes having their outer edges radially spaced with respect to the inner edges of said first vanes, an extension on said sleeve extending outwardly through said bore and from said chamber, a switch mounted on said casing, a switch control element on said extension on said sleeve, said control element being operable to engage and actuate said switch during a predetermined torque on said second impeller assembly in response to the rotation of said first impeller assembly.

3. A speed control device in accordance with claim 2, said switch including first and second contacts, one of said contacts being resiliently spaced from said other contact and being movable into engagement with said other contact by said control element.

4. In a speed control device, a casing having a fluid chamber including an inner cylindrical wall, a drive shaft mounted for rotation on said casing, said shaft having a shaft extension within said chamber, means connected to said drive shaft for rotating the same, a first impeller assembly within said chamber, said first impeller assembly including a disc connected to said shaft extension for rotation therewith, a plurality of first vanes connected in circumferentially spaced relation to said disc for rotation therewith, said vanes extending axially within said chamber and having outer edge portions in substantially contiguous relation to said cylindrical wall and inner edge portions substantially spaced in radial relation from said shaft extension, 2. second impeller assembly within said chamber, said second impeller assembly comprising a sleeve journalled on said shaft extension, first and second rotatable members connected to said sleeve in axially spaced relation for rotation therea with, a plurality of second circumferentially spacedwanes connected to said rotatable members, said second? vanes having their outer edges radially spaced with respect to the inner edges of said first vanes, an extension on said sleeve extending outwardly from said chamber, and a switch control element connected to said extension on said sleeve said control element being operable to actuate an electrical switch during a predetermined torque on said second impeller assembly in response to the rotation of said first impeller assembly.

5. In a speed control device, a casing having a fluid chamber including an inner cylindrical wall, a drive shaft mounted for rotation on said casing, said shaft having a shaft extension within said chamber, means connected to said drive shaft for rotating the same, a first impeller assembly within said chamber, said first impeller assembly including a disc connected to said shaft extension for rotation therewith, a plurality of first vanes connected in circumferentially spaced relation to said disc for rotation therewith, said vanes extending axially within said chamber and having outer edge portions in substantially contiguous relation to said cylindrical wall and inner edge portions substantially spaced in radial relation from said shaft extension, a second impeller assembly within said chamber, said second impeller assembly comprising a sleeve journalled on said shaft extension, a rotatable member connected to said sleeve for rotation therewith, a plurality of second circumferentially spaced vanes connected to said rotatable member, said second vanes having their outer edges radially spaced With respect to the inner edges of said first vanes, an extension of said sleeve extending outwardly from said chamber, and a switch control element connected to said extension of said sleeve, said control element being operable to actuate an electrical switch during a predetermined torque on said second impeller assembly in response to the rotation of said first impeller assembly.

6. In a speed control device, a casing having a fluid chamber including an inner wall, a drive shaft mounted for rotation on said casing, said shaft having a shaft extension Within said chamber, means connected to said drive shaft for rotating the same, a first impeller assembly within said chamber, said first impeller assembly including a disc connected to said shaft extension for rotation therewith, a plurality of first vanes connected in circumferentially spaced relation to said disc for rotation therewith, said vanes extending axially within said chamber and having outer edge portions in substantially contiguous relation to said wall and inner edge portions substantially spaced in radial relation from said shaft extension, a second impeller assembly within said chamber, said second impeller assembly comprising a sleeve joumalled on said shaft extension, a rotatable member connected to said sleeve for rotation therewith, a plurality of second circumferentially spaced vanes connected to said rotatable member, said second vanes having their outer edges radially spaced with respect to the inner edges of said first vanes, an extension of said sleeve extending outwardly from said chamber, and a control element connected to said extension of said sleeve, said control element being movable to control a power unit during a predetermined torque on said second impeller assembly in response to the rotation of said first impeller assembly.

7. In a speed control device, a casing having a fluid chamber including an inner cylindrical wall, a drive shaft mounted for rotation on said casing, said shaft having a shaft extension within said chamber, means connected to said drive shaft for rotating the same, a first impeller assembly within said chamber, said first impeller assembly including a first disc connected to said shaft extension for rotation therewith, a plurality of first vanes connected in circumferentially spaced relation to said first disc for rotation therewith, said vanes extending axially within said chamber and having outer edge portions in substantially contiguous relation to said cylindrical wall, a secondiimpeller assembly within said chamber, said second impeller assembly comprising a sleeve journalled on said shaft extension, a second disc connected to said sleeve for rotation therewith, a plurality of second'circumferentially spaced "vanes connected to-said seconddisc, an, extension of said sleeve'ex-t'ending outwardly from said chamber, a. switch control element connected to said extension of said sleeve, said control element being operable to actuate an electrical switch, a switch housing connected to said casing, a switch supported within said housing, said switch including a pair of switch arms, one of said arms being resiliently supported with respect to said other arm, and contact elements on said arms, said control element engaging and moving said resiliently supported arm whereby said contact elements are moved into engagement during a predetermined torque on said second impeller assembly in response to the rotation of said first impeller assembly.

8. In a speed control device, a casing having a fluid chamber including an inner cylindrical wall, a drive shaft mounted for rotation on said casing, said shaft having a shaft extension within said chamber, means connected to said drive shaft for rotating the same, a first impeller assembly within said chamber, a plurality of first vanes connected in circumferentially spaced relation to said shaft extension for rotation therewith, said vanes extending axially within said chamber and having outer edge portions in substantially contiguous relation to said cylindrical wall, said vanes having edge portions extending radially within said cheamber, a second impeller assembly within said chamber, said second impeller assembly comprising a sleeve journalled on said shaft extension, a plurality of second circumferentially spaced vanes connected to said sleeve for rotation therewith, said second vanes having radially extending edge portions disposed in close adjacent relation to the radially extending edge portions of said first vanes, an extension of said sleeve extending outwardly from said chamber, a switch control element connected to said extention of said sleeve, a switch housing connected to said casing, a switch supported within said housing, said switch including a pair of switch arms, one of said arms being resiliently supported with respect to said other arm, and contact elements on said arms, said control element engaging and moving said resiliently supported arm whereby said contact elements are moved into engagement during a predetermined torque on said second impeller assembly in response to rotation of said first impeller assembly.

9. In a speed control device, a casing having a fluid chamber including an inner cylindrical wall, a drive shaft mounted for rotation on said casing, said shaft having a shaft extension within said chamber, means connected to said drive shaft for rotating the same, a first impeller assembly within said chamber, said first impeller assembly including a plurality of said first vanes connected in circumferentially spaced relation to said shaft extension for rotation therewith, said vanes extending axially within said chamber and having outer edge portions in substantially contiguous relation to said cylindrical wall, a second impeller assembly within said chamber, said impeller assembly comprising a sleeve journalled on said shaft extension, a plurality of second circumferentially spaced vanes connected to said sleeve for rotation therewith, an extension of said sleeve extending outwardly from said chamber, a switch control-element connected to said extension of said sleeve, a switch housing connected to said casing, a switch supported within said housing, said switch including a pair of switch arms, one of said arms being resiliently supported with respect to said other arm, and contact elements on said arms, said control element engaging and moving said resiliently supported arm whereby said con- 1 tact elements are moved into engagement during a pre- 2,315,130 determined torque on said second impeller assembly in 2,342,414 reponse to the rotation of said first impeller assembly. 2,557,799

References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,985,930 Kilkenney Ian. 1, 1935 8 Peterson Mar. 30, 1943 Magill Feb. 22, 1944 Salmivuori June 19, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Italy May 3, 1929 

